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Avondale (Birmingham) facts for kids

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Avondale
Birmingham Neighborhood
Avondale Mills
Avondale Mills
Avondale is located in Alabama
Avondale
Avondale
Location in Alabama
Country United States
State Alabama
City Birmingham
Elevation
643 ft (196 m)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
35222
Area codes 205, 659

Avondale was a company town built around the Avondale Mills east of Birmingham, Alabama in Jefferson County. The town was incorporated on March 18, 1887. The city was annexed into Birmingham in 1910 and is now divided into three separate neighborhoods, North Avondale, East Avondale and South Avondale.

The first residents of the area were clustered around "King's Spring" on the slopes of Red Mountain, now the site of Avondale Park. There was once a small skirmish near the spring when Confederates fired on Union soldiers watering their horses.

The park was the largest in Birmingham until Ruffner Mountain Park was dedicated. It was known for the spring-fed grotto pool, an extensive rose garden, athletic fields, a secluded pavilion called "The Villa", and a large amphitheater that hosted a spectacular pageant in celebration of Birmingham's 50th anniversary in 1931. The park was also one-time home of the Birmingham Zoo, which at the time consisted mainly of non-exotic species with the exception of "Miss Fancy", an erstwhile circus elephant purchased by the Birmingham Advertising Club as a promotional novelty and then donated to the city.

The spring emerged from a cave, now sealed off and proceeded to flow through the center of Spring Street (now 41st Street), the primary commercial center of Avondale.

By the early seventies Avondale Park and the vicinity entered a long period of decline. However, the park has since seen a rebirth. In 2011, the city of Birmingham undertook a $2.88 million restoration of the park. In 2013, The Forest Park South Avondale Business Association sponsored the installation of free WiFi throughout the park.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1890 1,642 —
1900 3,060 86.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Avondale was listed on the 1890 and 1900 U.S. Censuses as an incorporated town. It was annexed by the city of Birmingham in 1910 and did not appear separately on that census. In 1900, it had 1,585 males (51.8%) and 1,475 females (48.2%).

Images for kids

  • Avondale Park sign

    Avondale Park

  • Avondale Park pond

    Avondale Park

  • Avondale Park

    Avondale Park

  • Feeding the swans, Avondale Park, Birmingham, Ala. (7372460514)

    Avondale Park

  • "OUR BABY DOFFER" and some of the other infants working in the Avondale Mills. Birmingham, Ala. - NARA - 523360

    Child laborers at Avondale Mills

  • Avondale-mill-school

    Avondale Mill School

  • Avondale MIll Village

    Avondale Mill Village

  • 300s 29th Street North Pell City April 2014

    Avondale Historic District Homes

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